Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture

Institute for Crop Science and Plant Breeding

Contact: Rudolf Rinder, Rudolf.Rinder@LfL.bayern.de, Am Gereuth 8, 85354 Freising, www.LfL.bayern.de

Dr. Peter Doleschel, Rudolf Rinder, Maximilian Neumair

Model-Project Low-Energy Greenhouse

Concept

Energy efficiency without trade-offs? To test energy effiziency measures in research greenhouses, the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture has chosen a location within the Institute for Crop Science and Plant Breeding, as plant cultures on site have a very high heat- and light-demand (>10klx), and because a later compareability of the results can be ensured. Together with the State Building Construction Department Freising, a greenhouse planner, a structural engineer, the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture, the Institute for Crop Science and Plant Breeding, and the compartments Central Administration and Information- and Knowledge-Management, a pilot project according to ZINEG criteria has been realized, to test (effective) solutions for the energy efficient modernisation of existing research greenhouses. The Future-Initiative Low-Energy-Greenhouse (ZINEG) has won the german sustainability award in 2014.

Measures

Well laced efficiency package?

The greenhouse has a ground area of 284 m2, a side wall height of 5 m, a ridge height of 7,20 m including base height, and consists of three compartments. In these spacious compartments, suffused with light and air, realistic observations for breeding research can be conducted. In efficiency-orientated plant breeding, greenhoueses are an important connective link between laboratory/climate chamber, and field. Heating is done by district heating with under table heating pipes and fan heaters in the roof area. All roll tables are equipped with ebb and flow systems, as well as with drip irrigation systems. The newly built greenhouse is supplied with water and fertilizer by an existing water pipeline and a fertilizer dispense trolley. The aim was an inexpensive construction (Company Kräss GlasCon) with high entry of daylight, good space utilization and a groundbreaking, new light concept, based on patented LED lighting of the newest generation. With these new lamps, not only plant assimilation shall be supported, but also Photo-morphogenesis (plant reactions on light) shall be observed and new insights for plant breeding shall be gained. Although the greenhouse is state of the art, the new construction costed only 800000,-€ which have been provided by the Bavarian State Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Forestry. The roof consists of highly transparent ironless flint glass, (isolating glass 4-18-4). Side walls and southern gable are equipped with heat-reflecting glass with coating and argon fill (isolating glass 4-18-4). Thermally separated glazing bar profiles are of the type Variolux Thermo 26. All compartments are equipped with 2 energy screens, the lower screen is a XLS 30 Harmony Revolux, which is flame retardant in accordance with building material class B1 (light transmissivity 64% diffus to 71 %). The upper screen is a PyroSilver ultra white, from the company Reimann (B1, light transmissivity 40%). At the southern gable wall, a rolling screen (Svensson ILS 50 Harmony Revolux) is installed; light transmissivity 51%. The northern gable wall consists of isolating sandwich panels from the company Kingspan (FireSafe). Many suggestions from the ZINEG-project could be adopted. The unresolved, burning questions, concerning integrated crop management by LED lamps, and control of plant photomorphogenesis, may now be examined by newly developed light concepts. Soon, new details from the light concepts can ease future investment decisions and can shed new light on plant breeding. Climatic and Ergonomic Features Cost-effective big space partitioning for secure observations of plants Eaves height 5 m, for better climate RAM-climate computer, for exact control of light, air, heat, water and nutrients High efficiency circultion pumps, for adjusted supply with heating energy Air heaters with EC motors and hydraulic compensation for air conditioning in the roof area Cable routes separated at table- and eaves height for less shading of the tables Sensors for light, temperature und air humidity, 2 climate areas per compartment Electricity meter and heat meter for precise analysis of the energy consumption Door threshold and gutter system barrier-free for good trafficability Access roads made of turf pavers for backing of surface water

Further Tasks and Open Questions o Conceptional use of energy-efficient LED-lighting systems in plant breeding o Investigations about Photomorphogenesis o Ecologic and economic assessment of the conducted measures o Life-Cycle-Assessments o Identification of cost factors and saving potentials o Reduction of maintenance costs for plant lighting o What are the future priorities? o Does to high humidity harm elite plants? o Can new control strategies reduce humidity in a way that makes good sense? o Are the measures in line with breeding work and growth success at the institut? o Can the measures be adopted for other research greenhouses? o Considerations about climate protection and CO2-footprint of greenhouses

Saving Potential

Reliable data situation?

This first pilot project has been launched in September last year, and has been finished this March. It already provides important findings, concerning the used materials and their properties, the strategy of the reconstruction measures, and first energy efficiency measures based on manufacturers specifications. Consumption measurements, with caloric and electric energy meters, are intended for ongoing operation and deliver reliable data for comparison with existing greenhouses.

A lot of light, air and free space for healthy plant growth and comfortable work experience. Saving energy without trade-offs? The technical data situation shows very high saving potentials on the way to CO2-neutral greenhouse production. How much of this technical potential can be implemented in practice, strongly depends on the demands of cultures in plant breeding. Basically, set point limits shall be fulfilled. Light, air, heat, water and nutrients shall be adjusted to the natural needs and development progress of plant cultures. The new model project shall not only provide important details for further restructuring of greenhouses in Weihenstephan (TUM/HSWT/LfL), but although work on open questions of the ZINEG-projects, like for example the smart use of high efficient full-spectrum LED lamps in new light concepts, or the employment of intelligent dehumidification strategies. New knowledge and experience values will take on our understanding of plants and Photomorphogenesis and will lead breeding research into the future. ©Rudolf Rinder, Freising 2015

Project Partners STMELF , StBA Freising, LfL-IPZ , LfL-AZV , LfL-AIW ,GEWÄCHSHAUS-PLANER, ELEKTRO/ENERGIE-PLANER, TÜV-BAYERN

Future

Spare ressources, protect the climate, save the world?